Disguising Microstock - Meat to Vegi?

She poses an interesting concept - should there be a "Vegi food" microstock agency specifically for vegitarian publications? I just searched under Dreamstime Collections for "vegetarian" and "vegan" and did find a fairly good variety of images. What are your thoughts? Why is VegNews having so many problems finding true vegi food photos?

Ironically, they are using the keywords on the stock site to 'prove' they aren't vegan. The ribs are obvious, but anyone who thinks that a photo of a hot dog that has the keyword 'beef' means it absolutely IS beef should be wary... I think it is poor practice to use stock photos to illustrate a recipe unless you are using the photos for the ingredients. An apple photo for apple pie makes sense, but if you have a photo of a pie I'd assume it was actually made according to the recipe.

Rosedarc - I agree! What a great niche for someone who can produce "true" vegan meals and photograph them accurately. I imagine this issue will create quite a stir with vegetarians. I also think this brings up the question as to whether or not the magazine is actually testing their recipes if they don't photograph the food proclaimed in the article. Many publications have their own style of food photography (ie. Martha Stewart Living) created by a talented onstaff photographer (or team). I can't imagine that VegNews can produce a consistent, branded "look" if they use stock.

I don't think that it would be very difficult to find beautiful and appetizing real vegetarian photos, such as yours, and probably it would be less time consuming than photoshopping bones out of a cutlet! They obviously know that they are doing and I don't find it ethical. I doubt that a specific Vegi food microstock agency would be economically sustainable, but a photographer with a passion for cooking such foods might be able to find a niche.

This article has been read 669 times. 1 readers have found this article useful. Photo credits: Louise Roach.

About me

I've been a photographer for over 30 years. My background ranges from portraits and weddings to fine art and industrial photography. Now I just photograph for fun and enjoy whatever passes in front of my camera. Profits from the sale of my microstock images are invested in women entrepreneurs to help alleviate poverty through microfinancing.

I've been a photographer for over 30 years. My background ranges from portraits and weddings to fine art and industrial photography. Now I just photograph for fun and enjoy whatever passes in front of my camera. Profits from the sale of my microstock images are invested in women entrepreneurs to help alleviate poverty through microfinancing.

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